Device for controlling flow through a vessel in a human member



R E B M ma 5 9 N A W9 M m GN w L WW1 S F E v A DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING FLOW THROUGH July 31, 1956 United States Patent turbine .J... 1

Ira-J u uvlt r DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING FLOW THROUGH A VESSEL IN 'A HUMAN MEMBER This invention relates to devices for preventing the fiow of liquid through a vessel in a human member and particularly for preventing the flow of urine through the male urethra.

While the invention is well adapted for use in the control of arterial bleeding, its novel features and advantages may best be illustrated in connection with its use as a clamp, attachable to a penis, in cases where a person is not able to control the urine flow. Reasons for incontinence are many for it is, for example, a condition often attendant old age or resulting sometimes from prostate surgery. In all such cases, it is a potential source of embarrassment and attempts have been made to provide clamps by which positive control of the urine may be afiorded. While these clamps have had a measure of success, they have not proved sufficiently efl'ective to justify the discomfort that the users experience when they are worn.

In accordance with the invention, a device, for the uses above referred to, consists of a strap having means at one end to receive its other end to enable it to be locked suitably about the member to block the unwanted flow through a particular one of its vessels. The strap is usually elastic in nature and it is preferred that the strap carry a resilient and compressible pad intermediate its end to engage with the member in the vicinity of that vessel. It is essential, however, that the means for interconnecting the strap ends be of approximately the same length or of greater length than the maximum cross sectional dimension of the member to which the device is to be attached thereby to provide substantial zones in which other vessels are not subjected to restrictive pressures.

In the accompanying drawings, there is shown an illustrat'ive embodiment of the invention which illustrates these and other of its novel features and advantages.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a view of the device attached to a penis, shown in cross section, and

Figs. 2 and 3 are plan and side views of the device by itself.

In the illustrative embodiment of the invention, there is shown an elastic strap 5 having at one end a loop 6 encircling the cross bar 7 adjacent one end of the rigid, flat surfaced buckle 8. The other end of the strap 5 is adapted to be inserted through the buckle slot 9 and to be securely caught between the surface 10 of the buckle slot 9 and the jaw 11 which is shown as pivotably mounted between ears 12 and normally urged into its operative position by a spring 13 located between its finger engageable end and the buckle 8 to which it is anchored.

Usually, a flexible tab 14 is secured to the inner surface of the strap 5 to underlie that portion of the buckle 8 that otherwise would engage with the member and at 15 there is shown a resilient and compressible pad attached to that surface of the strap. The function of 2,756,753 Pa ented July 31, 195.6

2 the pad 15 t en ag W h the m mber. as la niasable ti -1h? yas'a fi be ns tis sdand, it i so. 9.-- ate t avith re a asata member whi h h device is attached, the buckle and are approximately diametrically disposed.

In Fig. l, the device is shown as attached to a penis, generally indicated at 16, and the use and advantage of the device may be best understood by describing, in some detail, the formation of the penis. A penis has three cavernous bodies in which there are arteries. These-are indicated at 17, 18, and 19. These bodies are surrounded by fleshy layers through which extend many blood vessels. The urethra 20 extends through the body 17 but, as will be apparent from Fig. 1, it is well cushioned so that substantial external pressure is required to close it against the passage of urine therethrough.

It will be noted that when the device is attached with the pad 15 in its most favorable position relative to the urethra 20, its buckle is located approximately diametrically opposite thereto so that it is conveniently accessible for engagement by the wearer in tightening or loosening the device. It will also be noted that the length of the buckle 8 is substantially greater than the maximum cross sectional dimension of the penis 16. This arrangement avoids clamping pressure which, if effective to block flow through the urethra 20, would also block veins and arteries to an objectionable extent. In contrast, the use of a clamp approximately of a length equal to the maximum cross sectional dimension of a penis ensures that the clamping pressure exerted against the urethra is essentially between the zone of the pad 15 and the buckle 8, with little inward pressure between those zones. As a consequence, blood may flow through blood vessels throughout a substantial part of the penis. Where the length of the clamp materially exceeds the maximum cross sectional dimension of the penis, as is the case with the illustrative embodiment of the invention, substantial portions of its periphery are not even engaged by the strap 5.

Devices in accordance with the invention, accordingly, are Well adapted to enable constrictive pressure to be exerted on a vessel in a human member with a minimum of interference with other vessels extending therethrough thus ensuring maximum effectiveness with a minimum of discomfort.

What I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for controlling flow through a vessel in a body member, said device comprising an elastic strap, rigid flat surfaced means carried by one end of said strap to receive the other end thereof to enable said strap to encircle the member and to be looked under a selected tension, and a resilient and compressible pad secured to the inner surface of said strap, said pad being spaced from said means to engage with the surface of the member in the zone of the vessel to exert centered constrictive pressure thereon and when thus engaged to position said means approximately diametrically opposite thereto, and the length of said means being of approximately the maximum cross sectional dimension of Maw-1. M u Mun .1,

the member thereby to ensure that the selected strap at engage with the surface of the penis in the zone of the urethra to exert centered constrictive pressure thereon and when thus engaged to position said means approximately diametrically opposite thereto, and the length of said means being of approximately the maximum cross sectional dimension of the penis thereby to ensure that the selected strap tension exerts a minimum constrictive effect on the blood vessels.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

